Niese, Wright Lead Mets Over Phillies

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 14: Ike Davis #29 of the New York Mets congratulates teammates after the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on April 14, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Mets won 5-0. (Photo by Brian Garfinkel/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ike Davis

(Photo by Brian Garfinkel/Getty Images)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jonathon Niese and two relievers combined on a six-hitter, David Wright homered despite a broken finger and the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-0 on Saturday.

Niese (2-0) allowed five hits and struck out five in 6 2-3 innings. Bobby Parnell got four outs and Jon Rauch pitched the ninth.
Wright was 3 for 5, including a long homer on the first pitch he saw after missing three games with a broken right pinkie. Lucas Duda also connected for the Mets, who are off to a surprising 6-2 start.

The five-time defending NL East champion Phillies are 3-5 and struggling offensively without All-Stars Chase Utley and Ryan Howard in the middle of their lineup. They’ve scored two runs or less in five of their eight games.

Wright hurt his finger diving back to a base Monday night. He finally felt well enough to return on Saturday, and made an impact right away.

Worley retired the first two batters before Wright drove one out to almost straightaway center to give the Mets the lead in the first.

The Mets tacked on three runs in the fourth. They loaded the bases with no outs on a walk and singles by Wright and Ike Davis, who was 1 for 24 to that point. One run scored when Jason Bay grounded into a double play. Duda then ripped a two-run shot to right, snapping an 0-for-15 slump with his third homer.

Mets center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis robbed Brian Schneider of extra bases and an RBI with a sensational running catch on a drive to the warning track to end the second inning.

The crowd of 45,750 was the 225th straight sellout at Citizens Bank Park, including postseason play. There were blue-shirted Mets fans mixed in, of course. The loudest cheers from home fans came when a New York fan was ejected from the ballpark in the ninth.